Application Program and Related Techniques for Organizing a Meeting Between People

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented application program comprises various graphic user interfaces to facilitate the formation of a physical meeting between people. A computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions to implement the computer-implemented application program.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of and claims the benefitof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/175,681, filed Jun. 7, 2016,which is a Continuation Application of and claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/958,016, filed Aug. 2, 2013, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,392,038, issued Jul. 12, 2016, which claims the benefit under35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/682,907, filedAug. 14, 2012, which applications are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to computer application programs and,more particularly, to a computer application program with which a usercan organize a physical meeting between people.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of application programs are known that can operate onvarious types of computing platforms. For example, the applicationprograms can operate on computing platforms that can include, but arenot limited to, mainframe computers, desktop computers, laptopcomputers, tablet computers, and smart cellular telephones.

With some application programs, the user can arrange certain aspects ofa meeting between people. For example, with Microsoft® Outlook®, a usercan specify a date and a time of a meeting and broadcast the specifieddate and time to one or more other users of the same applicationprogram. User can also broadcast other information in text form, forexample, a location of the meeting.

Application programs, such as Microsoft® Outlook®, do not allowcommunication of some important aspects of a physical meeting betweenpeople, for example, a map display of where the meeting is to takeplace.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a computer applicationprogram that can communicate other important aspects of a meetingbetween people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a computer application program that cancommunicate various important aspects of a meeting between people.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, acomputer-implemented method of generating a meeting among peopleincludes selecting, with a graphical user interface, a venue; displayinga map in accordance with the venue on a computer display; selecting,with a graphical user interface, a location of the meeting; generatingan icon on the map at the location; selecting, with a graphical userinterface, a time of the meeting; selecting, with a graphical userinterface, one or more people to attend the meeting; associating, with aprocessor, the selected time and the selected one or more people withthe icon on the map; and communicating information identifying the map,the selected time, the selected location of the meeting, and theselected one or more people.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the computerimplemented method includes one or more of the following aspect.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the venuecomprises a city.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the venuecomprises an organized event.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the computerdisplay is upon a communication device.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, thecommunication device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the selectingthe one or more people comprises: storing identifying information of theone or more people as a stored group of information; and assigning anidentifying name to the stored group of information.

In some embodiments, the computer-implemented method further comprises:comparing a real time with the selected time of the meeting;identifying, with a satellite location system, a geographic location ofat least one of the one or more people if the real time is within a realtime threshold of the selected time of the meeting; and viewing on acomputer screen, the map, the icon, and a location icon representativeof the geographic location.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the computerdisplay is upon a communication device.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, thecommunication device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

In some embodiments, the computer-implemented method further comprises:enlisting a member organization; comparing a location of the memberorganization with the location of the meeting; and displaying a membericon representative of the member organization on the map at a positionrepresentative of the location of the member organization if thelocation of the member organization is within a threshold distance ofthe location of the meeting.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the computerdisplay is upon a communication device.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, thecommunication device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the memberorganization comprises a concession associated with the venue.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the memberorganization comprises a restaurant.

In some embodiments of the computer-implemented method, the memberorganization comprises a bar.

In some embodiments, the computer-implemented method further comprises:selecting, with a graphical user interface, the member organization; anddisplaying data on the map in accordance with the selecting the memberorganization, the data describing a feature of the member organization.

In another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable storagemedium having computer-readable code stored thereon, comprisesinstructions for: selecting, with a graphical user interface, a venue;displaying a map in accordance with the venue on a computer display;selecting, with a graphical user interface, a location of the meeting;generating an icon on the map at the location; selecting, with agraphical user interface, a time of the meeting; selecting, with agraphical user interface, one or more people to attend the meeting;associating, with a processor, the selected time and the selected one ormore people with the icon on the map; and communicating informationidentifying the map, the selected time, the selected location of themeeting, and the selected one or more people.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, thecomputer-readable storage medium includes one or more of the followingaspects.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, the venuecomprises a city.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, the venuecomprises an organized event.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, thecomputer display is upon a communication device.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, thecommunication device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, theselecting the one or more people comprises: storing identifyinginformation of the one or more people as a stored group of information;and assigning an identifying name to the stored group of information.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium furthercomprises instructions for: comparing a real time with the selected timeof the meeting; identifying, with a satellite location system, ageographic location of at least one of the one or more people if thereal time is within a real time threshold of the selected time of themeeting; and viewing on a computer screen, the map, the icon, and alocation icon representative of the geographic location.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, thecomputer display is upon a communication device.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, thecommunication device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium furthercomprises instructions for: enlisting a member organization; comparing alocation of the member organization with the location of the meeting;and displaying a member icon representative of the member organizationon the map at a position representative of the location of the memberorganization if the location of the member organization is within athreshold distance of the location of the meeting.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, thecomputer display is upon a communication device.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, thecommunication device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, the memberorganization comprises a concession associated with the venue.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, the memberorganization comprises a restaurant.

In some embodiments of the computer-readable storage medium, the memberorganization comprises a bar.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium furthercomprises instructions for: selecting, with a graphical user interface,the member organization; and displaying data on the map in accordancewith the selecting the member organization, the data describing afeature of the member organization.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention, as well as the invention itselfmay be more fully understood from the following detailed description ofthe drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a method of creating a so-called “smokesignal”;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram showing a computer display, for example, adisplay upon a smart telephone, that can be generated in conjunctionwith the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial diagram showing another computer display, forexample, a display upon a smart telephone, that can be generated inconjunction with the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram showing another computer display, forexample, a display upon a smart telephone, that can be generated inconjunction with the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a method of viewing an existing smokesignal;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial diagram showing a computer display, for example, adisplay upon a smart telephone, that can be generated in conjunctionwith the method of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial diagram showing another computer display, forexample, a display upon a smart telephone, that can be generated inconjunction with the method of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a method of creating a so-called “tribe”;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial diagram showing a computer display, for example, adisplay upon a smart telephone, that can be generated in conjunctionwith the method of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a pictorial diagram showing another computer display, forexample, a display upon a smart telephone, that can be generated inconjunction with the method of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a method of managing a tribe;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a method of viewing a smoke signal andof identifying a GPS location of people within the tribe;

FIG. 13 is a pictorial diagram showing a computer display, for example,a display upon a smart telephone, that can be generated in conjunctionwith the method of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a method of viewing member businessesproximate to a location of a smoke signal; and

FIG. 15 is a pictorial diagram showing a computer display, for example,a display upon a smart telephone, that can be generated in conjunctionwith the method of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the present invention, some introductory concepts andterminology are explained. As used herein, the term “smoke signal” isused to describe an icon upon a computer display used to represent aphysical meeting between people and a physical location of the meeting.The term “smoke signal” is used herein interchangeably with the conceptof a physical meeting between people.

As used herein, the term “tribe” is used to describe a specified groupof people that can take part in the meeting represented by the smokesignal. A tribe is information stored in a computer-readable storagemedium that identifies a group of people and is associated with a tribename.

As used herein, the term “computing device” or simply “computer” is usedto describe any computer platform now known or later developed. Acomputer platform can include, but is not limited to, a mainframecomputer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, anda smart cellular telephone.

As used herein, the term “computer display,” or simply “display,” isused to describe any form of computer platform display now known orlater developed associated with any type of computing device. Computerplatform displays can include, but are not limited to, liquid crystaldisplays (LCD) and cathode ray tube (CRT) displays.

While examples are given below that describe certain function and thatshow certain displays associated with a smart cellular telephone, itshould be understood that the techniques described herein relate to anytype of computing device and to any type of display.

While examples are shown below that show some selectable optionspresented on a computer display in horizontal arrangements and otherselectable options presented on a computer display as verticallydisposed drop down menus, it will be understood that any of theselectable options can be presented in either form, or also in a formthat is neither vertical or horizontal, for example, circular.Furthermore, menu options can be presented as speech prompts by theapplication program and/or can be selected by way of speech selectionsby the user.

While examples are shown below that show some selectable optionspresented on a display as text options, it will be understood that, inother embodiments, the selectable options can be presented as icons orother graphical representations on the display.

While examples are shown below of particular groupings of selectableoptions on a display, it will be understood that the selectable optionscan be grouped in other ways, and the selectable options shown can bereplaced by other similar selectable options without departing from theinvention described herein.

As used herein, the term “TAP” is used to describe a tactile press upona computer display in a so-called “touch screen” arrangement.

While examples are described below for which a selection from amongselectable options is made with a TAP, it should be understood thatother means and other techniques of making a selection from amongselectable options are possible. For example, it is known thatselections can be made upon some computer displays by way of positioninga cursor upon a selection followed by some manual operation such aspressing a keyboard key or clicking a mouse button. The methods andtechniques described herein are not limited to any one form of making aselection.

As used herein, the term “venue” is used to describe both a specificfunction, e.g., a concert, at a specific location at a specific date andtime, but also to describe a location on a map having no surroundingfunction.

It should be appreciated that FIGS. 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, and 14 showflowcharts corresponding to the below contemplated technique which wouldbe implemented in a computing device represented by computer displaysshown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, and 15. Rectangular elements(typified by element 12 in FIG. 1), herein denoted “processing blocks,”represent computer software instructions or groups of instructions.Diamond shaped elements (typified by element 530 in FIG. 5), hereindenoted “decision blocks,” represent computer software instructions, orgroups of instructions, which affect the execution of the computersoftware instructions represented by the processing blocks.

Alternatively, the processing and decision blocks represent stepsperformed by functionally equivalent circuits such as a digital signalprocessor circuit or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The flow diagrams do not depict the syntax of any particular programminglanguage. Rather, the flow diagrams illustrate the functionalinformation one of ordinary skill in the art requires to fabricatecircuits or to generate computer software to perform the processingrequired of the particular computing device. It should be noted thatmany routine program elements, such as initialization of loops andvariables and the use of temporary variables are not shown. It will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that unless otherwiseindicated herein, the particular sequence of blocks described isillustrative only and can be varied without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. Thus, unless otherwise stated the blocks described beloware unordered meaning that, when possible, the steps can be performed inany convenient or desirable order.

Referring to FIG. 1, a method 10 of arranging a physical meeting betweenpeople begins at block 12. At block 12 a user can select, upon acomputer display, an option corresponding to a so-called “smoke signal.”The smoke signal is described above. The selection of this option isshown as element 94 and also in FIG. 2 below. Referring briefly to FIG.2, there it is shown that the selection of the smoke signal option ismade upon a menu of options that are horizontally disposed at the bottomof a display. However, as described above, other means and otherpresentations for selection of the smoke signal option are possible.

At block 14, upon selection of smoke signal option at block 12, a set ofoptions for selection can be presented, for example, as a drop-downmenu. The selectable options are also described below in conjunctionwith FIG. 2. One of the selectable options can be representative ofmaking a new smoke signal.

At block 16, the selectable option representative of making a new smokesignal is selected by way of a TAP upon the selectable option upon thedisplay.

At block 18, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. One of the selectable options can berepresentative of a selection of a venue at which a meeting betweenpeople can take place and another one of the selectable options can berepresentative of the selection of a city in which the meeting will takeplace. Other selectable options are also possible. In some embodiments,the list of venues can be acquired from another application program, forexample, Foursquare®.

At block 20, the selectable option representative of venue is selectedby way of a TAP upon the selectable option upon the display.

At block 22, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. One of the selectable options can be aselection of a city.

At block 24, the selectable option representative of the city isselected by way of a TAP upon the selectable option upon the display.

At block 26, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can correspond to alist of city names.

At block 28, the selectable option representative of a specific city canbe selected by way of a TAP upon the selectable option upon the display.Alternatively, but not shown, a city name can be entered upon thedisplay by way of a touch screen keypad.

At block 30, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can include alisting of specific venues, for example, theaters or events, at the cityselected at block 28. However, in other embodiments, the venue canmerely be an address.

At block 32, the selectable option representative of a specific venuecan be selected by way of a TAP upon the selectable option upon thedisplay. Alternatively, but not shown, a venue name can be entered uponthe display by way of a touch screen keypad.

At block 34, a map of the venue automatically appears upon the displayof the computing device. In some embodiments, a plurality of maps isstored within a memory within the computing device. However, in otherembodiments, the map of the venue is automatically downloaded to thecomputing device over a wired or wireless network from a centrallocation. To this end, the computing device communicates to and from thecentral location. In some embodiments, the map can be acquired fromanother application program, for example, Foursquare® or MapQuest®.

It will be understood that the map of the venue can be representative ofthe relatively small physical area, for example, a small theater showingseating and the like, or the map of the venue can be representative ofrelatively large physical area, for example seating and other areaswithin a large baseball park.

At block 36, the user the user can zoom in or zoom out the view of themap of the venue, for example, by placing two fingers upon the displayand spreading or un-spreading the fingers.

At block 38, by way of a TAP upon the display at a desired location of ameeting between people, a user can select the desired location.

At block 40, an icon can appear on the computing device, and upon themap of the venue, at this selected desired location of the meeting. Insome embodiments, the icon can have the appearance of fire or smoke orboth. Accordingly, the icon is referred to herein as a smoke signal. Adisplay showing a smoke signal icon is described below in conjunctionwith FIG. 3. However, any icon can be used.

At block 42, a user can move the smoke signal on the map of the venue onthe display. In some embodiments the user can move the icon by touchingthe icon on the display and sliding the icon to a new location.

At block 44, the user can select the placed smoke signal with a TAP uponthe placed smoke signal on the display.

At block 46, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can include aselectable option corresponding to when the desired meeting is to occur.Some such selectable options are described below in an exemplary displayin conjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 48, the selectable option representative of when the meeting isto take place is selected by way of a TAP upon the correspondingselectable option upon the display.

At block 50, a touch screen keypad can appear upon the display.

At block 52, by way of the touch screen keypad, the user can enterinformation, for example, corresponding to a date, a time, and aduration of the meeting.

At block 54, the user can again select the placed smoke signal with aTAP upon the placed smoke signal on the display.

At block 56, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can include aselectable option corresponding to who will attend the meeting. Somesuch selectable options are described below in conjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 58, the selectable option representative of who will attend themeeting is selected by way of a TAP upon the corresponding selectableoption upon the display.

At block 60, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can include aselectable option corresponding to a so-called “tribe.” As describedabove, a tribe is an identified group of people.

At block 62, the selectable option representative of a tribe is selectedby way of a TAP upon the corresponding selectable option upon thedisplay.

At block 64, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can include a listof names of tribes.

At block 66, the selectable option representative of a specific desiredtribe is selected by way of a TAP upon the corresponding selectableoption upon the display.

At block 68, the user can again select the smoke signal by way of a TAPupon the smoke signal upon the display.

At block 70, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can include aselection to “lock” option to lock the smoke signal. Some suchselectable options are described below in conjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 72, the selectable option to lock the smoke signal is selectedby way of a TAP upon the corresponding selectable option upon thedisplay.

The option to lock the smoke signal can correspond to a function thatdoes not allow other people to whom the smoke signal will becommunicated to change one or more aspects of the smoke signal, i.e.,the meeting. For example, if the smoke signal is locked, other peoplewho receive the smoke signal may not be able to add or subtract peopleto or from the meeting. Other aspects can also be locked by theoriginator of the smoke signal.

At block 74, the user can again select the smoke signal by way of a TAPupon the smoke signal upon the display.

At block 76, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options can include aselection to turn on or off (i.e., lock) GPS (global positioning system)tracking to the tribe members selected above in conjunction with block62. Some such selectable options are described below in conjunction withFIG. 4.

At block 78, the selectable option to turn on or off (i.e. lock) GPStracking is selected by way of a TAP upon the corresponding selectableoption upon the display.

While certain characteristics of the smoke signal and of the meeting aredescribed above, it will be understood that other characteristics of thesmoke signal can also be selected by way of other drop-down menus and/orother selections.

At block 80, the smoke signal, now completed, can be activated orignited by way of a TAP upon a corresponding indication upon the display(see, e.g., FIG. 4). When ignited, the smoke signal is communicated, forexample, by way of the Internet, which can include wireless links, forexample, cellular telephone wireless links, to all of the members of thetribe identified in conjunction with box 66 above.

Blocks 82-82 show steps that can be taken to select a city, resulting ina city map, instead of blocks 20-34. Functions of the blocks will beunderstood from the discussion above in conjunction with blocks 20-34.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a display, in the form of a display upon asmart cellular telephone, can include a variety of options as adrop-down menu when the smoke signal button 202 at the bottom of thedisplay is pressed by user. This display corresponds to a display thatmay be generated in response to box 12 of FIG. 1.

A computing device that can generate images upon the display and thatcan perform functions described herein can include a processor, aninstruction memory, and a data memory coupled to the display.Furthermore, the computing device can include a communications module(e.g., a cellular telephone module) and a GPS module coupled to theprocessor.

It will be understood that a cellular telephone can communicatewirelessly to a cellular network, which may couple (wirelessly or wired)to another network, for example, the Internet, which may, in turn, havecomputer servers coupled thereto. The servers can have resident thereonfeatures (e.g., software instructions and/or data) described herein,with any partitioning of features (e.g., software instructions and/ordata) between the cellular telephone and the servers. Notably, mapsdescribed herein may originally reside on the servers and may bedownloaded to the cellular telephone. In some embodiments, the maps canbe associated with another application program, for example, Foursquare®or MapQuest®. However, in other embodiments, the maps can be associatedwith the application program described herein.

Where the computing device used to display information described hereinis not a cellular telephone, still the computing device can communicatethrough a network, for example, the Internet, with servers also coupledto the network

Referring now to FIG. 3, a display shown is representative of a displaythat may appear in response to box 40 of FIG. 1. Here is shown a smokesignal icon 302 (or simply a smoke signal) upon a map. As describedabove in conjunction with FIG. 1, the smoke signal 302 is representativeof a meeting that is requested by user at the location on the map.Associated with the meeting is a variety of information described abovein conjunction with FIG. 1. For example, the information can include adate of the meeting, a time of the meeting, a duration of the meeting, avenue of the meeting, a specific physical place of the meeting, and whowill attend the meeting. Such information can be viewed by recipients ofthe smoke signal in ways described more fully below.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a display is representative of a display thatmay appear in response to boxes 44, 54, 68, 74 of FIG. 1 when the smokesignal is TAPed upon the display by the originator of the smoke signal,and also when TAPed by recipient of the smoke signal as described morefully below.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a method 500 can correspond to actions that arecipient of the smoke signal can take, some of which the originator ofthe smoke signal can also take, and views that the recipient can seeupon his display.

The method 500 begins at block 502. At block 502 a so-called“invitation” can appear on the computer display of each one of therecipients, i.e., each member of the tribe, to which a smoke signal iscommunicated at block 80 of FIG. 1. An exemplary invitation is describedbelow in conjunction with FIG. 6. Referring briefly to FIG. 6, aninvitation can include a view of the map selected by the originator ofthe smoke signal at blocks 32, 86 of FIG. 1. Invitation can also includean icon and text information 604 indicative of the originator of thesmoke signal and other text information the originator may wish tocommunicate. The view can also include the map and the smoke signal 602associated with the meeting and communicated by the originator of thesmoke signal.

At block 504, a recipient can select the option for smoke signal at thebottom of the display.

At block 506, a set of options for selection can be presented to therecipient, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude an option to view invitations corresponding to smoke signals.Exemplary selectable options are described below in conjunction withFIG. 4.

At block 508, the selectable option to view invitations is selected byway of a TAP upon the corresponding selectable option upon the display.

At block 510, a set of options for selection can be presented to therecipient, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude a listing of one or more invitations for smoke signals that havebeen received by the recipient.

At block 512, the recipient can select an invitation (i.e., a smokesignal) from among the one or more invitations signals.

At block 514 a city or venue map can appear on the screen of therecipient along with a smoke signal icon corresponding to theinvitation. The display can be the same as or similar to the displaydescribed above in conjunction with FIG. 3.

At block 516, the recipient of the smoke signal can zoom in or out onthe map using techniques described above.

At block 518, the recipient can select the smoke signal by way of a TAPupon the smoke signal upon the display.

At block 520, a set of options for selection can be presented to therecipient, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude an option by which the recipient can obtain further informationabout the invitation. An exemplary drop-down menu is described above inconjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 522, the recipient can select the type of information thathe/she wishes to see, for example, who are the meeting attendees and/orwhen is the meeting.

At block 524 a listing of information can appear upon the display of therecipient. The information can include, but is not limited to a listingof a so-called “chief,” who is the originator of the smoke signal, thedate, any time, a duration of the meeting associated with the invitationand with the smoke signal, and a listing of people to whom invitation orsmoke signal applies. An exemplary display is described below inconjunction with FIG. 7.

At block 526, the recipient can again select the smoke signal on the mapon the display.

At block 528, a set of options for selection can be presented to therecipient, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude an option by which the recipient can accept or decline aninvitation, i.e., a received smoke signal. An exemplary drop-down menuis described above in conjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 530, the recipient can accept or decline the invitation, i.e.,the smoke signal, by way of a TAP upon the selected option upon thedisplay.

At block 532, if the recipient accepts invitation, the process proceedsto block 534. At block 534, another drop-down menu of selectable optionscan be presented to the user. The selectable options can include anoption for the recipient to accept or reject GPS tracking of hismovements.

At block 536, the recipient can accept or reject GPS tracking of hismovements with a TAP upon the selected option upon the display. Thedisplay can revert automatically to the smoke signal display showing thesmoke signal upon the map.

At block 538, if the smoke signal was not locked by the originator ofthe smoke signal, the process proceeds to block 540.

At block 540 if the recipient chooses to add people to the meeting, theprocess proceeds to block 542.

At block 542, the recipient can again select the smoke signal on the mapon the display.

At block 544, a set of options for selection can be presented to therecipient, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude an option to show who has been invited to the meeting associatedwith the smoke signal. An exemplary drop-down menu is described above inconjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 546, the user can select the option to show who is been invitedto the meeting.

At block 548, another set of options for selection can be presented tothe recipient, for example, as a drop-down menu. The options forselection can include options to select tribes, an address book, orsocial media, for example, Facebook®. Use of social media is describedmore fully below.

At block 550, the user can select an option for tribes, address book, orsocial media.

At block 552, another set of options for selection can be presented tothe recipient, for example as a drop-down menu. The options forselection can include a listing of specific tribes, specific people, orspecific social media (e.g., from which to import contact information),depending on which one of those options was selected at block 550.

At block 554, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, aspecific tribe, specific people, or a specific social medium, dependingon which one of those options selected at block 550.

At block 556, the recipient can again select the smoke signal on the mapon the display.

At block 558, a set of options for selection can be presented to therecipient, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude an option to re-ignite (i.e., ignite) the smoke signal. Anexemplary drop-down menu is described above in conjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 560, by way of a TAP upon the display, the user can re-ignitethe smoke signal. Re-igniting the smoke signal is similar to ignitingthe smoke signal described above in conjunction with block 80 of FIG. 1.Re-igniting smoke signal causes smoke signal information to betransmitted to people originally associated with the smoke signal(including the originator), and also to additional people that wereadded in conjunction with blocks 542-556.

It should be appreciated that, if the smoke signal is not locked by theoriginator, for example, at block 72 of FIG. 1, then by way of addingpeople to the meeting and re-igniting the smoke signal, the number ofmembers associated with the meeting can grow depending upon additionalpeople that each person who receives the smoke signal wants to add tothe meeting.

At block 532, if the recipient of the invitation does not accept theinvitations, then the process ends.

At block 538, if the smoke signal is locked by the originator, then theprocess ends.

At block 502, the recipient can bypass steps and jump directly to block526 by selecting the smoke signal or invitation icon with a TAP.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an exemplary display shows an icon 604 upon themap, the map that has been communicated from the originator of themeeting, or by a recipient of the meeting who has invited additionalpeople to the meeting. The display is representative of that which mayappear in conjunction with block 502 of FIG. 5.

The display shows the map and the smoke signal 602.

The icon 604 can provide information to the recipient. Here shown, theicon includes a photograph of the person who has communicated the smokesignal to the recipient, a name of the person, and also further textinformation that the person who communicated the invitations, i.e., thesmoke signal, wishes to communicate.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an exemplary display shows a graphicalrepresentation of information that may be provided to a recipient of thesmoke signal, and which can be viewed by way of block 524 of FIG. 5. Asdescribed above, information can include, but is not limited to, alisting of a so-called “chief,” who is the originator of the smokesignal, the date, the time, and the duration of the meeting associatedwith the invitation and with the smoke signal, and a listing of peopleto whom invitation or smoke signal applies.

Of particular use when a meeting associated with the smoke signal isabout to occur, the information can also show which members of themeeting are present, which members are not yet present, which membershave declined the invitation associated with the smoke signal, and whichmembers have not responded to their receipt of an invitation. Theapplication program can identify which members are present and whichmembers are not yet present by way of the GPS function provided by manycomputing devices, so long as the GPS function was not locked, and solong and GPS tracking was accepted by the members of the tribe.

In order to identify who was present at the meeting, a distancethreshold can be used. For example, a threshold of 100 meterssurrounding the specified location of the meeting can be used as adistance threshold. Those members who are within the 100 meter thresholdfrom the location of the meeting, as identified by the GPS function, canbe represented on the display as being present, and those not within thehundred meter threshold can be represented as not yet present. However,a distance threshold less than or greater than one hundred meters canalso be used. Also, in some embodiments, the user can specify thedistance threshold

Referring now to FIG. 8, a process 800 is used to create a tribe. Theprocess 800 begins at block 802, where the option for tribe can beselected from the bottom menu on the display. An exemplary displayassociated block 802 is described more fully below junction with FIG. 9.

At block 804, another set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can include anoption to make a new tribe.

At block 806, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, theoption to make a new tribe.

At block 808, a keypad can appear on the display.

At block 810 the user can enter the name he wishes to associate with thetribe.

At block 812, another set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can include anoption for who, corresponding to a selection of members of the tribe.

At block 814, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, theoptions for who is to be a member of the tribe.

At block 816, another set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can include anoption to select an address book.

At block 818, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, theoption for the address book.

At block 820, a user address book can appear on the display. Computeraddress books will be understood.

At block 822, the user can select specific people from his/her addressbook, for example, by way of one or more TAPs upon the display to selectthe people.

At block 824, a display can be presented to the user showing informationabout the tribe thus created. An exemplary display, showing informationabout the created tribe, is described below in conjunction with FIG. 10.

At block 826, if, by way of the drop-down menu viewed at block 816, theuser selects social media instead of selecting his/her address book,then at block 828 another set of options for selection can be presented,for example, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can includea listing of specific social media, for example, Facebook® and others.

At block 830, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, aspecific social medium.

At block 832, by way of functions associated with the selected socialmedium, the user can select social media members. The process proceedsto block 824.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an exemplary display shows a graphicalrepresentation of information that may be provided by way of block 802of FIG. 8, when the tribe button at the bottom of the display isactivated. Options for selection can include an option to create a newtribe an option to view or manage existing tribes. Other options arealso possible.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an exemplary display shows a graphicalrepresentation of a tribe as may be viewed in conjunction with block 824of FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a process 1100 shows a method of managing atribe previously created. The process begins at block 1102 where theoption for tribe can be selected from a menu along the bottom of thedisplay. An exemplary display associated with block 1102 is describedabove in conjunction with FIG. 9.

At block 1104, another set of options for selection can be presented,for example, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can includean option to view or manage an existing tribe

At block 1106, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the options to view or manage an existing tribe.

At block 1108, a listing of tribe names appears on the display.

At block 1110, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, aspecific tribe name from among the names of tribes.

At block 1112, another set of options for selection can be presented,for example, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can includeoptions to add or delete names from the tribe.

At block 1114, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the option to add names to the tribe.

At block 1116, another set of options for selection can be presented,for example, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can includeoptions of address book or social media.

At block 1118, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the option for address book.

At block 1120, and address book can appear on the display.

At block 1122, the user can select, by way of one or more TAPs upon thedisplay, one or more people from the address book.

At block 1132, if the user instead selects the option for social mediaat block 1116, then at block 1134, another set of options for selectioncan be presented, for example, as a drop-down menu. The options forselection can include a list of specific social media.

At block 1136, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,one of the listed social media.

At block 1138, the user can select members to include in the tribe byway of functions associated with the selected social medium.

At block 1124, the user can instead select, by way of a TAP upon thedisplay, an option to delete members from the tribe.

At block 1126, a name list can appear on the display. The name list canbe the same as or similar to the tribe list described above inconjunction with FIG. 10.

At block 1128, the user can select, by way of one or more TAPs upon thedisplay, the names of one or more people to delete from the tribe.

At block 1130, the user can make an affirmative decision to delete thepeople selected at block 1128, for example, by way of selecting, by wayof a TAP upon the display, the selection “Yes.”

Referring now to FIG. 12, a method 1200 of identifying where tribemembers are when the meeting associated with smoke signal is about totake place begins at block 1202. At block 1202 a user can select theoption of smoke signal from the menu at the bottom of the screen.

At block 1204, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can include anoption to view current or past smoke signals, i.e., meetings. This menuis shown and described above in conjunction with FIG. 2.

At block 1206, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the option to view active smoke signals.

At block 1208, another set of options for selection can be presented,for example, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can includea list of current and future smoke signals, i.e., meetings.

At block 1210, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, aspecific one of the listed smoke signals, i.e., meetings. In particular,the user can select a meeting that is about to happen

At block 1212, either the city or venue map appears on the display ofthe user. A smoke signal icon appears on the display at the location ofthe meeting on the venue or city map. An exemplary display is describedabove in conjunction with FIG. 3.

At block 1214, the user can zoom in or out in the map display usingtechniques described above.

At block 1216, the user can select the smoke signal by way of a TAP uponthe smoke signal upon the display.

At block 1218, a set of options for selection can be presented to theuser, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude an option by which the user can view locations of the tribemembers, which allows the user to view on the map locations of tribemembers associated with smoke signal.

At block 1220, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the option to view the tribe member locations . . . .

In some embodiments, the GPS function includes privacy characteristics.For example, in some embodiments, only tribe members within apredetermined threshold distance of the location represented by thesmoke signal can be viewed on the display. For example the predeterminedthreshold distance can be one kilometer. However, in other embodiments,the predetermined threshold distance can be more than one kilometer orless than one kilometer.

The GPS function can also include privacy characteristics describedabove, for example, in conjunction with block 536 of FIG. 5. At block536, is described that a recipient of the smoke signal can refuse tohave his location identified by way of the GPS function.

Block 1222 is representative of yet another privacy characteristic ofthe GPS function. At block 1222, it is automatically determined if thereal-time is within the duration of the smoke signal specified, forexample, at block 52 of FIG. 1. If the real-time is within the durationof the smoke signal, the process continues to block 1224. A time marginthreshold can also be used to provide and extended duration windowextending beyond the duration of the smoke signal by a predeterminedamount.

At block 1224, GPS locations of people in the tribe associated with thesmoke signal selected at block 1210 are shown on the display. Anexemplary display of GPS locations is described below in conjunctionwith FIG. 13.

If, at block 1222, the real-time is not within smoke signal duration (asmay be extended by the time margin threshold described above), then, insome embodiments, at block 1226, an error message can appear on thedisplay indicating that the user is unable at that time to view GPSlocations on the display.

Referring now to FIG. 13, an exemplary display, which can be associatedwith block 1224 of FIG. 12, shows a view including a map, including anicon 1302 representative of the smoke signal, the smoke signalindicative of a physical location of a meeting, and icons, for example,an icon 1304, representative of GPS locations of tribe membersassociated with smoke signal 1302. With this function each tribe memberis able to view physical positions of the other tribe members. Specifictribe members can be identified on the display with text information,photographs, or other means.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a method 1400 provides a means by which tribemembers attending a meeting associated with a smoke signal can viewselected establishments (i.e., members or subscribers) proximate to thelocation of the meeting.

It will be understood that many computer application programs seek toobtain a profit. Some computer application programs obtain a profit byway of advertising, the advertising obtained from a wide variety of theadvertisers. As will become apparent from discussion below, for thepresent application program, various sorts of establishments andbusinesses may pay for services associated with the application programdescribed herein.

The method 1400 begins at block 1402. At block 1402, a user can selectthe option of smoke signal from the menu at the bottom of the screen.

At block 1404, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can include anoption to view current or past smoke signals, i.e., meetings. Anexemplary display of the drop-down menu a block 1404 is described abovein conjunction with FIG. 2.

At block 1406, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the option to view current smoke signals.

At block 1408, a set of options for selection can be presented, forexample, as a drop-down menu. The options for selection can include alist of current and future smoke signals, i.e., meetings.

At block 1410, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, aspecific one of the listed smoke signals, i.e., meetings. In particular,the user can select a meeting that is about to happen

At block 1412, either the city or venue map appears on the display ofthe user. A smoke signal icon appears on the display at the location ofthe meeting on the venue or city map. An exemplary display is describedabove in conjunction with FIG. 3.

At block 1414, the user can zoom in or out in the map display usingtechniques described above.

At block 1416, the user can select the smoke signal by way of a TAP uponthe smoke signal upon the display.

At block 1418, a set of options for selection can be presented to theuser, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude an option by which the user can view sponsors. An exemplarydisplay of the drop-down menu a block 1418 is described above inconjunction with FIG. 4.

At block 1420, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the option to view the sponsors.

Sponsors can be establishments that have paid money, either directly orindirectly, to the developer of the application program described hereinfor the right to be listed as sponsors. Three types of sponsors aredescribed below. However virtually any type of sponsors can be includedin the sponsors of this application program. Also, people orestablishments who have not paid money can also be listed under somecircumstances.

In some embodiments, sponsors can pay more money or can otherwiseprovide a discount to customers who present smoke signals with at leastpredetermined numbers of members in a tribe associated with a smokesignal for which they are sponsors.

In some embodiments, there can be different graphical representations ofthe smoke signal on the screen of a user depending upon how many tribemembers have accepted the smoke signal and/or how many tribe members arepresent at the meeting. For example, the graphical representation canchange in size and/or change in color. In some embodiments, points canbe given by the application program to the members of smoke signals withlarge tribes, or by sponsors proximate to a smoke signal with a largetribe. Points given by a sponsor can result in discounts given by thesponsor.

At block 1422, a set of options for selection can be presented to theuser, for example, as a drop-down menu. The selectable options caninclude category names of sponsors. The category names can include, butare not limited to, concessions, restaurants, and bars.

At block 1424, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display,the option to view sponsored concessions. Concessions can include, forexample, booths at the venue that sell products, for example, T-shirts,food, beverages, alcoholic beverages, CDs.

At block 1426, sponsor concessions appear on the display overlaid on themap of the venue. An exemplary display showing concessions as icons upona map of the venue is described below in conjunction with FIG. 15.

In some embodiments, the application program automatically selects thoseconcessions that are within a predetermined threshold distance from thesmoke signal selected at block 1410. For example the predeterminedthreshold distance can be one kilometer. However, in other embodiments,the predetermined threshold distance can be less than one kilometer orgreater than one kilometer. In some embodiments, the predeterminedthreshold distance can be automatically tailored in accordance with thetype of venue represented by the smoke signal. For example, if the venueis a small venue, for example, a small theater, the predeterminedthreshold distance can be reduced to, for example, one hundred meters.On the other hand, if the venue is a very large a, for example, DisneyWorld, the predetermined threshold distance can be increased to, forexample, five kilometers. In some embodiments, the user can select thepredetermined threshold distance by way of menus not further describedherein.

At block 1428, the user can select, by way of a TAP upon the display, aspecific one of the concessions shown as icons upon the display.

At block 1430, details about the concession can appear on the display.For example, prices, menus, specials, coupons or other detailsassociated with the selected venue can appear.

At block 1422, the user can select different sponsors than concessions.Here shown, in blocks 1432-1438, the user has selected restaurants. Inblocks 1440-1446, the user has selected bars. Method steps associatedwith those other selections will be understood from the discussion abovein conjunction with concessions.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a display shows a map of the venue associatedwith the smoke signal selected at block 1410 of FIG. 14 and shows thesmoke signal icon 1502 at the specified location of the meeting on themap. Sponsor or member icons, for example, an icon 1504, representativeof locations of restaurants, can appear on the display, for example, inconjunction with block 1434 of FIG. 14.

It will be understood that some aspects of the above-described computerapplication program and related techniques can reside as instructionswithin a local computer platform, e.g., a smart cellular telephone.However, it should be also appreciated that some aspects can reside at acentral location to which the local computer platform can communicate.For example, the above-described venue maps and lists of theabove-described sponsors can be centrally located, for example, on acentral server. Other aspects can also be centrally located.

While particular menus and sequences of menus are shown and describedabove, it will be appreciated that the functions described herein can beoperable with different menus and sequences of menus.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention it will nowbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that otherembodiments incorporating these concepts may be used. Additionally, thesoftware included as part of the invention may be embodied in a computerprogram product that includes a computer readable storage medium. Forexample, such a computer readable storage medium can include a readablememory device, such as a hard drive device, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or acomputer diskette, having computer readable program code segments storedthereon. A computer readable transmission medium can include acommunications link, either optical, wired, or wireless, having programcode segments carried thereon as digital or analog signals. Accordingly,it is submitted that that the invention should not be limited to thedescribed embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spiritand scope of the appended claims. All publications and references citedherein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method of generating ameeting among people, comprising: selecting, with a graphical userinterface on a computer display, a venue; displaying a map of the venueon the computer display, the map of the venue showing a plurality ofinternal features inside of the venue; selecting a location of themeeting at the venue by dragging and dropping an icon on the map on thedisplayed venue to a position indicative of a selected spot proximate toone of the plurality of internal features inside of the venue;selecting, with a graphical user interface on the computer display, oneor more people to attend the meeting; communicating, to the one or morepeople, information identifying the map and the selected location of themeeting; displaying, in accordance with the communicating, the map ofthe venue on one or more respective computer displays of the one or morepeople; and displaying, in accordance with the communicating, the iconon the map of the venue on the one or more computer displays of the oneor more people at the selected location of the meeting.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the venue comprises aconcert Hall.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein thevenue comprises a place for an organized event attended by a crowd ofpeople.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, furthercomprising: enlisting a member organization; comparing a location of themember organization with the location of the meeting; and displaying amember icon representative of the member organization on the map on thecomputer display at a position representative of the location of themember organization only if the location of the member organization iswithin a threshold distance of the location of the meeting.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the member organizationcomprises a concession associated with the venue.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the member organizationcomprises a restaurant.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4,wherein the member organization comprises a bar.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising: selecting,with a graphical user interface upon the computer display, the memberorganization; and displaying data on the map upon the computer displayin accordance with the selecting the member organization, the datadescribing a feature of the member organization.
 9. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising: discountingto the member organization if one of the one or more people presents arespective computer display indication to the member organization thatthe one or more people comprises at least a predetermined number ofpeople.
 10. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readablecode stored thereon, the computer readable code comprising instructionsfor: selecting, with a graphical user interface on a computer display, avenue; displaying a map of the venue on the computer display, the map ofthe venue showing a plurality of internal features inside of the venue;selecting a location of the meeting at the venue by dragging anddropping an icon on the map on displayed venue to a position indicativeof a selected spot proximate to one of the plurality of internalfeatures inside of the venue; selecting, with a graphical user interfaceon the computer display, one or more people to attend the meeting;communicating, to the one or more people, information identifying: themap and the the selected location of the meeting; displaying, inaccordance with the communicating, the map of the venue on one or morerespective computer displays of the one or more people; and displaying,in accordance with the communicating, the icon on the map of the venueon the one or more computer displays of the one or more people at theselected location of the meeting.
 11. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 10, wherein the venue comprises a concert Hall.
 12. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the venuecomprises a place for an organized event attended by a crowd of people.13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein thecomputer readable code further comprises instructions for: enlisting amember organization; comparing a location of the member organizationwith the location of the meeting; and displaying a member iconrepresentative of the member organization on the map on the computerdisplay at a position representative of the location of the memberorganization only if the location of the member organization is within athreshold distance of the location of the meeting.
 14. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the memberorganization comprises a concession associated with the venue.
 15. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the memberorganization comprises a restaurant.
 16. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 14, wherein the member organization comprises a bar. 17.The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the computerreadable code further comprises instructions for: selecting, with agraphical user interface upon the computer display, the memberorganization; and displaying data on the map upon the computer displayin accordance with the selecting the member organization, the datadescribing a feature of the member organization.
 18. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the computer readablecode further comprises instructions for: discounting to the memberorganization if one of the one or more people presents a respectivecomputer display indication to the member organization that the one ormore people comprises at least a predetermined number of people.